Companies Lack Employee Feedback Channels

Without continuous employee feedback channels, company learning and talent management efforts will be marginally effective at best.

According to cloud-based talent management solutions provider Saba, U.S. companies are operating in the dark when it comes to their employees’ needs and perceptions. Saba’s October 2016 survey suggests there’s a decent chance a company’s workforce engagement is suffering due at least in part to inadequate employee feedback channels.

As part of the study, a majority of employees surveyed reported rarely being asked for their feedback — perhaps only a few times a year. Further, a look beneath the surface of that revelation revealed an age and gender disparity around who was solicited for feedback.

Sixty-one percent of female employees reported they were rarely asked for feedback in comparison to 56 percent of male employees.

Sixty-eight percent of baby boomers said they were asked for feedback infrequently as well.

The focus on improving employee engagement only continues to sharpen as organizations compete for talent. Saba’s study highlights the need for companies to increase their employee feedback channels frequently and consistently capture the insights that will inform the changes workers are seeking — and what development they may require.

There is a marked disconnect between how well employees feel their employers meet their needs and how well companies think they’re doing on this front. For instance, according to the survey, while 41 percent of HR managers thought company training and development opportunities were easy for employees to access, only 22 percent of employees felt the same way.